Supercapacitors (SCs) hold significant promise as a key component in energy storage systems due to their unique combination of high-power density, rapid charge/discharge rates and long cycle life. Unlike traditional batteries, SCs can efficiently handle frequent charge/discharge cycles without significant degradation, making them ideal for applications requiring rapid energy delivery. Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) are gaining significant attention as electrode materials for SCs due to their unique properties. The solvents, HNO3 acid and DMF not only facilitate the dispersion of graphene-based materials but also impact the morphology, surface chemistry, and structural properties of the resulting thin films. The present research explores the suitability of GO and RGO-based composite electrodes prepared using 0.1 M HNO3 acid and DMF for SCs. The reported work mainly focused on comparing the performance of RGO-based SCs with that of GO-based (control) using HNO3 and DMF as solvents. The maximum specific capacitance obtained was 146 F g- 1 at 2 mV s- 1 for RGO - DMF-based SC at room temperature. The maximum gravimetric energy density of 21.58 Wh kg- 1 and gravimetric power density of 81.55 kW kg- 1 were exhibited for GO - DMF and RGO - DMF-based SCs, respectively. Electrochemical impedance analysis was used to characterize the device. Investigation of solvent influence on electrode preparation is unique and can provide insights into optimizing the electrode preparation process. The study uncovers that DMF is a better solvent for preparing GO and RGO-based electrodes. In addition, the study reveals that RGO-based SC shows higher performance compared to that of GO-based one.
Stabilizers are extensively employed in yogurts to enhance their textural properties. Recently, there has been a growing demand for natural, plant-derived stabilizers as these not only improve water-holding capacity, control syneresis, and regulate firmness-like textural properties but also their ability to enhance the nutritional value of yogurts. Plant stabilizers like gums and mucilages, including almond gum, psyllium husk gum, okra mucilage, flaxseed mucilage, quince seed mucilage, chia seed mucilage, and jujube mucilage, have successfully been revealed to improve water holding capacity of yogurt curd, and reducing syneresis by increasing the total solid content in yogurt. The anionic polysaccharides in these plant stabilizers interact with milk proteins, aided by calcium ions in milk, improving the gel structure. Neutral hydrocolloids also enhance yogurt viscosity, further contributing to improving the textural properties of yogurt. In contrast, aloe vera gel like plant sources which contain weak fibrous polysaccharides network and antimicrobial agents like salicylic acid, are less effective as stabilizers. Fibers from apple pomaces, orange peels, and passion fruit peels are excellent stabilizers due to their high pectin content. Excessive use of stabilizers however can result in textural defects. Thus, optimizing the amount of natural stabilizer is crucial to obtain optimal textural properties in yogurt. This review consolidates current research to serve as a comprehensive guide for yogurt manufactures, providing optimal usage levels for various plant stabilizers to achieve desirable texture and minimize syneresis without inducing other defects.
IntroductionThe use of diverse diagnostic methods in the absence of a definitive gold standard makes it challenging to determine the most appropriate test for diagnosing human intestinal nematode infections (HINIs), particularly across various clinical settings with varying endemicity. The ideal diagnostic method should be feasible, cost-effective, and accurate. This review evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), comparing them to the Kato-Katz (KK) and flotation methods for the detection of ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm infection, the Baermann technique (BT) for strongyloidiasis, the Scotch tape test for enterobiasis, and a composite reference standard (CRS).MethodsWe systematically searched PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Trip, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and the academic search engine Google Scholar for studies published within the 12 years preceding September 2024. After the title, abstract and full-text screening, the selected studies were assessed for their methodological quality using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies - Version 2 (QUADAS-2). Data were extracted into 2x2 contingency tables, and sensitivity and specificity were pooled using the Reitsma bivariate random-effects model. Forest plots and summary ROC curves were used to explore heterogeneity.Principal findingsOf the 3,239 articles screened, 35 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, NAATs showed higher pooled sensitivity for HINIs. For Ascaris lumbricoides, NAATs showed markedly higher sensitivities of 96-98% against the CRSs, compared with KK and flotation methods (57-67%). For Trichuris trichiura, NAAT sensitivity ranged from 74 to 87% across CRSs, whereas KK and flotation exhibited slightly lower but comparable sensitivities (70-83%). For hookworm, NAATs achieved sensitivities of 88-95% against CRS, substantially exceeding those of KK (43%) and flotation (59%) against CRS, with specificities above 87%. In detecting Strongyloides stercoralis, NAATs showed 80% sensitivity versus the BT, increasing to 93% against CRS, while the BT showed a sensitivity of 59%. When all soil-transmitted helminths were analysed collectively, pooled sensitivities of NAATs (75-84%) exceeded those of KK (64%), with consistently high specificity across all diagnostic methods. For hookworm, NAATs detected approximately two to threefold more infections than KK and flotation methods, when evaluated against a CRS, highlighting the substantial under-detection by conventional microscopy.ConclusionNAATs provide markedly higher sensitivity than copro-microscopy, especially for low-intensity or post-MDA infections. Combining routine microscopy with targeted NAAT deployment and emerging low-cost molecular approaches can optimise diagnostic accuracy and surveillance feasibility, strengthening control programmes and accelerating progress toward the WHO 2030 deworming and elimination goals.
A ring-connected microgrid cluster is formed when each microgrid in the cluster is connected to two adjacent microgrids as a ring, enhancing the system reliability. The interconnections among microgrids in a microgrid cluster can mitigate the unstable operation of individual microgrids providing benefits to the utility grid, and the microgrids in the network. Ring-connected microgrid can be formed into different topologies like radial or isolated, under contingencies. Conventional protection systems are not adaptable to the varying fault current levels under these changing networked operation and bidirectional power flow among neighboring microgrids. Failure of the protection system can compromise the benefits expected from the networked operation of microgrids. Therefore, wavelet transforms and deep learning-based smart fault detection and localization technique is proposed in this paper to provide protection for ring connected microgrid clusters. Instantaneous voltage and current waveforms, and basic features extracted from the transient signals are used to detect and localize faults using a deep learning-based classifier. To improve the resiliency, a backup protection scheme is also developed. An intelligent model combining communication infrastructure is used to provide the protection coordination for the backup scheme. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed scheme for the ring-connected microgrid cluster giving a fault detection accuracy of 98.03 +/- 0.87% with a fault interruption time of less than 50 ms.
BACKGROUND:Plant diseases threaten global agriculture. A series of 22 novel indole-benzoxazole derivatives were synthesized to evaluate their antimicrobial potential against eight plant pathogenic fungi and three bacteria. RESULTS:Several compounds exhibited potent antimicrobial activity. Specifically, C12 showed high efficacy against Phomopsis sp. (EC₅₀ = 5.1 μg mL-1 vs azoxystrobin 44.7 μg mL-1) and Rhizoctonia solani (EC₅₀ = 7.9 μg mL-1 vs 17.3 μg mL-1). C4 strongly inhibited Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (EC₅₀ = 8.5 μg mL-1 vs thiodiazole copper 73.3 μg mL-1). In vivo assays confirmed their superior curative and protective efficacy. Mechanistic studies revealed that C12 acted by disrupting cell wall/membrane integrity, while C4 functioned by suppressing biofilm formation and reducing extracellular polysaccharide production. CONCLUSION:C12 and C4 demonstrate promising antimicrobial potential through distinct action mechanisms, providing valuable candidates for the development of new plant disease control agents. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
